Shirley Mae (Holz) Gawel

Shirley M. Gawel, age 77, of Big Flats, died at Aspirus Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin and went to be with God on July 31, 2024.

She was born on August 1, 1946, the beloved daughter of Roy and Ruth (Gerwing) Holz in Hartford, Wisconsin. At age four, Shirley and her family moved to Lebanon, Wisconsin where she attended Lebanon Public Schools and graduated from Hustisford High School in 1964. In 1966, Shirley then moved to Milwaukee and attended M.I.T. for one year.

She had various jobs in health claims processing, payroll, cost accounting, and general office procedures. Shirley was united in marriage to Ray Gawel on June 8, 1968. The couple moved to Massachusetts for one year while Ray finished his Naval enlistment, before relocating to Milwaukee where she continued working in health claims processing and bookkeeping.

In 1976, Shirley started her own tax preparation service and worked passionately in that field until her retirement in 2018.  During that same time, she worked for several other companies, most notably as the bookkeeper for B&H Lumber in West Bend.

In 1978, Shirley moved again to West Bend, then to Silver Creek in 2005 for her golden years, and finally, in 2021, she moved to Big Flats for (as she put it) her “rusty years”.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Ray; her daughter and best friend, Donna Gawel (formerly Gawel-Miller); her son, David Gawel; and her beloved granddaughter, Catherine Miller.

Further survivors include her sister, Lorraine Hinton; sisters and brothers-in-law, Theresa (Joe) Willegal, Kathryn (Dennis) Komassa, Ed (Beth) Gawel, Flo Welk, and Robert (Peggy) Gawel.  She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Shirley is preceded in death by two children, Debra Ruth in 1973 before her birth, and Daniel, age 23, on January 10, 2005.

She is also preceded by her mother, Ruth, in August, 2006; father, Roy, in May, 2012; brother, Ken Holz, in September, 2018; mother-in-law, Ruth Gawel, in February, 2016; father-in-law, Henry, in March, 2006; sisters and brothers-in-law, Shirley Jean Holz, Barbara and Tony Grippo, Bernie Gawel, and Marge and Nim Zimmerman.

Shirley was very involved in ministering to other parents who had a child die after the death of her own son in 2005. She started writing a book called “Hold On To Them But Let Them Go” to share how she coped with that loss. She also ministered to others who were unsure of death, heaven, and the afterlife, by explaining what heaven would be like.

Her greatest passion in life was her relationship with God and Jesus, her spirituality, and sharing that spirituality with others. She loved spending time with her granddaughter Catherine, enjoying the companionship of her cats, and doing needlepoint and cross stitch projects.

VISITATION: Shirley’s family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service (1315 W. Washington Street, West Bend).

SERVICE: A funeral service in remembrance of Shirley will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service (1315 W. Washington Street, West Bend). Shirley will be laid to rest privately, next to her son Daniel, in Cedar Creek Cemetery.

Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Shirley’s arrangements. Additional information and Tribute Wall may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.